It's a Mind Field‪!‬ Leon Fernandes, Hannah Achelles and Chris Jaeger

Leon Fernandes has a conversation which 'changed his life'. His guest Greg, has wisdom in bucket-loads. They discuss the difficulties of coming-out as a gay man, in decades past, and run-ins with suicide.Coming out as a gay man was often a journey marked by profound trauma and societal rejection. The weight of societal stigma and fear of persecution hung heavily over individuals who dared to be true to themselves. Many faced isolation from family and friends, discrimination in work...

Chris Jaeger talks with his cousin Jess about miscarriage. She tells her heartbreaking story of pregnancy loss.Miscarriage can inflict profound emotional wounds, often leading to a complex array of mental health challenges. Grief, guilt, and deep sadness may engulf individuals and couples, triggering feelings of inadequacy and despair. Anxiety and depression can emerge, lingering long after the physical pain subsides. The loss of a hoped-for future can leave a deep sense of emptiness and long...

Chris Jaeger continues his conversation with paramedic Jason Kirkaldy.A front line paramedic, Jason experiences trauma daily. He speaks about the unique mental health challenges faced by first responders. IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW. Content warning -Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and...

Chris Jaeger talks with paramedic Jason Kirkaldy who opens up about revealing mental health struggles in a workplace that sometimes demonstrates a culture of shame. Jason discusses trauma that stems from working on the frontline in paramedicine and how that can impact mental health. IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW. Content warning -Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may...

After 10 years in the mental health sector supporting patients, and being a patient himself, Max Simensen believes there is a better way to approach treatment. Max speaks up against emotional suppression and discusses how people with mental health issues find a need to perform 'unwellness’ in order to access the treatment they need.Over the last two years, Max has led NSW’s first operational SafeHaven - a drop-in service, offering an alternative to Emergency Departments for people ...

What happens to young people when religious dogma clashes with sexual identity? In many cultures, living outside of sexual norms can evoke guilt, shame and rejection. But, Mohammad Awad who runs the award-winning Muslim Peers Project, which supports young Muslims, says that religious identity and queer identity are not mutually exclusive - they can exist in harmony. An artist, writer and poet, Awad talks with Chris Jaeger about mental health consequences of marginalisation, advocating fo...